JUST RETURNED from a ninety minutes intense walk to continue flattening my forty inches waist. I decided to check one of those "lineal" parks of Puerto Rico. Even
if in circle or zig zag. It length is one mile and a half. Two thirds of it, three hundred
meters after the sidewalk entrance, going up through the ugly concrete ramp, on top of a sewage waters, or mangrove used with that purpose.
This park is under the PARQUES NACIONALES dominion, a group of ignorants from top to bottom. To start, when asked how many species are there, the man in charge made that classical gesture of not knowing. Employees doing maintenance, two.
Right after you walk in, the amount of Thespesias populneas, Tabebuias, gingers, Ixoras, some ugly palm trees, and others
make their presence evident. They clash like a hammer on your forehead. Why would any one plant these last three in such context; an environment known for mangroves. I do not know. They got an approximate 20 species at the most, in a mile and half. I had to identify and count them since no employee is capable of thinking
of the benefit to know what is there. To write down the inventory, share it with the public, for education
purposes. I have over one hundred in fifty square meters.
This is one of the greatest failures of any public space, futile attempts of being botanical, endemic, or ecologic. A lack of being able to distinguish spaces, to separate
ornamental plants that are perfectly all right in the entrance of a hotel, but certainly
not in a park such as this.
The soil saturated with thirty days of rains, minimal natural drainage, shows the type of vegetation one may observe in a bog. Looking for oxygen, the roots of many trees are visible over the ground. Other classical custom is paving with concrete instead
of going the natural way with wood or gravel for paths. This materials are useful to the soil to increase oxygenation, drainage, making it more natural, attractive.
The two, tired, worn out employees were collecting dead, leaves, (future nutrients) , placing them in plastic bags, laid flat out on the ground.WITH one hand these fellows lift/open the bag. With the other pushing the collected leaves with the rake inside. Believe it or not!
Perhaps it is a problem of mine. To see everything that is wrong with the treatment
of our surroundings, flora and fauna. Even when I try to look the other way I can not.
Particularly when I walk every sidewalk in the Ponce de Leon Avenue, uneven, cracked, garbage, gravel, dirt, leaves and anything one can think possible. Time to
go.
miércoles, 27 de mayo de 2009
sábado, 23 de mayo de 2009
MISCELANEOUS GARDEN ACTIVITIES
IT HAS been raining for the last twenty five days down here. If you are a serious gardenener you know the consequences: white flies, fungi, viruses, bacterial disease.
Fortunately, for your so so humble servant, only the first came, saw and passed away
with my secret weapon.
A couple of Hibiscus cannabilus were planted in the abandoned house that I have adopted, pruning, sweeping, and propagating. There are also Cosmus sulphureous in two stages of growth, tall and small. Soon there will be orange flowers. In addition,
tree TTurneras ulmifolia, one of each; Sanseveria, Bauhina and Tecoma stans. This two story house abandoned for the last ten years, appears in one picture here to the right, it looks
ten times better than other habited houses.
In my own pots... A couple were pulled out to cut the roots avoiding future strangulation: Pithelobium dulce, my favorite big tree at the moment and Tartago.
Strings were placed as a trellis to allow my multiple vines to do their thing in the
back yard. There are Clitorea ternatea, Ipomoeas, Passiflora edulis/oersteddii and Cannavalia maritima.The last one has been a surprise. In the sea shore where it
was collected, it grows as a bush not a vine. The seeds were planted six months ago. The growth speed of these vines is truly amazing, and the
simplicity and beaty of their flowers.
There are two Bouganvilleas. The one in the east garden, is growing in a corner
for beauty and security purposes, it is the only space where anyone could climb and
jump in. The other one in the north garden, is about ten inches high, planted just to enjoy
the intense purple color of the flowers and the eventual shade.
One pot with many vines that had been placed under roof but able to receive rain
water and sun in the drive way previously, was moved into the fresh air. With the amount of the mentioned during the last month, it has been growing twice as fast on the white metal fence that you may appreciate in one or two pictures in the right side of the blog.
I reiterate that vines are great for privacy and only once a while they need any kind
of trim and order. They are attractive, good for insects and else, not used as they
should in this godforsaken isle. I hope the neighbors do not destroy them later in the future considering that the abandoned house that I maintain is their property, but you never
know in PUERTO RICO. People do incredible things to vegetation of any size, shape when seen as a hindrance. Time to go. What have you planted today? Yesterday?
Fortunately, for your so so humble servant, only the first came, saw and passed away
with my secret weapon.
A couple of Hibiscus cannabilus were planted in the abandoned house that I have adopted, pruning, sweeping, and propagating. There are also Cosmus sulphureous in two stages of growth, tall and small. Soon there will be orange flowers. In addition,
tree TTurneras ulmifolia, one of each; Sanseveria, Bauhina and Tecoma stans. This two story house abandoned for the last ten years, appears in one picture here to the right, it looks
ten times better than other habited houses.
In my own pots... A couple were pulled out to cut the roots avoiding future strangulation: Pithelobium dulce, my favorite big tree at the moment and Tartago.
Strings were placed as a trellis to allow my multiple vines to do their thing in the
back yard. There are Clitorea ternatea, Ipomoeas, Passiflora edulis/oersteddii and Cannavalia maritima.The last one has been a surprise. In the sea shore where it
was collected, it grows as a bush not a vine. The seeds were planted six months ago. The growth speed of these vines is truly amazing, and the
simplicity and beaty of their flowers.
There are two Bouganvilleas. The one in the east garden, is growing in a corner
for beauty and security purposes, it is the only space where anyone could climb and
jump in. The other one in the north garden, is about ten inches high, planted just to enjoy
the intense purple color of the flowers and the eventual shade.
One pot with many vines that had been placed under roof but able to receive rain
water and sun in the drive way previously, was moved into the fresh air. With the amount of the mentioned during the last month, it has been growing twice as fast on the white metal fence that you may appreciate in one or two pictures in the right side of the blog.
I reiterate that vines are great for privacy and only once a while they need any kind
of trim and order. They are attractive, good for insects and else, not used as they
should in this godforsaken isle. I hope the neighbors do not destroy them later in the future considering that the abandoned house that I maintain is their property, but you never
know in PUERTO RICO. People do incredible things to vegetation of any size, shape when seen as a hindrance. Time to go. What have you planted today? Yesterday?
jueves, 21 de mayo de 2009
CHONTADURO/BACTRIS GASIPAES EN CALI COLOMBIA
THANK GOD for those documentaries shown in television. The ones from
SPAIN, they teach and make you wonder. Docu.tv and Rtv.es, these people
keep one sharp regarding not only the environment, also but issues that often get blurry and out of focus since all the information we receive in any media is nine of ten times negative or silly.
The theme is a palm tree, rather thin, with sharp thorns all around. It grows 30/40/50 feet. The fruit is the Chontaduro, or BACTRIS GASIPAES. It is hard to believe the passion towards this fruit, with alleged aphrodisiac effects, eaten boiled or raw when it has matured.
This region gets tons of rain and the soil is reddish/orange and mostly
clay.
This tree is the main staple for income, bartering among the black population in this region of CALI, Colombia. From the seed beds, is
collected and planted in pairs. The area is marked to be able to spot
the plants at the time of weeding. After 3/4 years, the crops are ready.
Meanwhile, the farmers have to protect the fruit from parrots among other birds and insects. Pest management is organic. Garlic is smashed and
mixed with water sprayed at flowers/fruits. A back tank
is used, with a home made hose to reach. Another method of protection is to cover the fruit with plastic sheets stuck around the fruit bunches.
What is really amazing is to watch one in the group, climbing in a home made contraption through the palm trunk to reach the fruits. It is made out of tree branches and rope with the needed tension to climb without
sliding. Since the palms grow thorns, the climbing destroys their only means of protection.
The one used to climb dies later on . For this reason these fellows use only one palm to reach the rest. You have to see it to believe it.
The contraption has two parts. One for the feet, to move up and one for the arms that also becomes a rest while going up. With a long stick designed to cut and stop the bunch from falling, the crop is picked
after going 30/40/50 feet. It is important to keep the bunch intact since
that will determine a higher price at the market.
After the fruit collected in distant areas is brought to the village, it is separated with size, ripeness in mind. Later tied up to be taken to the market in CALI, four hours away through dirt roads. But the fruit is also transported through rivers and rustic wood home made vehicles adapted to travel in rail road tracks!
The team also gathers bananas, mangos and other staples from the forest in long walks. In between crops they also do some logging apparently without destroying the environment. Some wise fishing is also part of the
struggle. In one, termites nests whole are cut, later in pieces.
These pieces, with termites are placed into wooden traps in the river to
catch shrimps. They are covered with banana leaves and kept firm in the
ground with sticks to stop the water from pushing them down river.
The documentary flows quickly. The center of it, some what unexpectecly, is a woman, who organizes the buying and selling in the village. She is also involved in transporting the merchandise to CALI.
It is worth mentioning that the best price requires whole bunches. The fruit that falls off is picked and used to pay laborers doing the heavy work
of loading and unloading, also for those who work in the farm. In addition she sells house to house, guava, mangos and CHONTADUROS. These are peeled with a knife, put in a plastic bag, with salt/and/or/honey and sold to children
and adults in that wonderful city.
Bringing this story home , one has to question the need of illegal workers
in USA or Puerto Rico do farm work. Or how this ILLITERATE people
demonstrate such intelligence working in precarious situations, probably without water/electricity to survive in harmony with nature.
Illiterate people, I wish we had many like them down here. Intelligence has nothing to do with schooling. But what is left? Ignorance? In Puerto
Rico it is an epidemic. Imagine this...
RECENTLY some really well paid workers from the STATE electricity company, mutilated and destroyed seventy so so trees for the hell of it.
Results? Consequences? Some 'leader' sent a letter to the jerk in charge
of the illiterate/ignorant fools culprits of such use and custom here.
How ignorant are these fools? Think of GALILEO, when the earth was flat.
To measure how stupid is the national intelligentsia here, AGRONOMISTS, will be used as consultants not ARBORISTS as logic/education mandates, to help the GESTAPO Forestry, of Puerto Rico, Recursos Naturales and the AEE
(Authority of Electrical Energy) quite a name!
Sorry. But reality bites....NOW is time to collect signatures again?
SPAIN, they teach and make you wonder. Docu.tv and Rtv.es, these people
keep one sharp regarding not only the environment, also but issues that often get blurry and out of focus since all the information we receive in any media is nine of ten times negative or silly.
The theme is a palm tree, rather thin, with sharp thorns all around. It grows 30/40/50 feet. The fruit is the Chontaduro, or BACTRIS GASIPAES. It is hard to believe the passion towards this fruit, with alleged aphrodisiac effects, eaten boiled or raw when it has matured.
This region gets tons of rain and the soil is reddish/orange and mostly
clay.
This tree is the main staple for income, bartering among the black population in this region of CALI, Colombia. From the seed beds, is
collected and planted in pairs. The area is marked to be able to spot
the plants at the time of weeding. After 3/4 years, the crops are ready.
Meanwhile, the farmers have to protect the fruit from parrots among other birds and insects. Pest management is organic. Garlic is smashed and
mixed with water sprayed at flowers/fruits. A back tank
is used, with a home made hose to reach. Another method of protection is to cover the fruit with plastic sheets stuck around the fruit bunches.
What is really amazing is to watch one in the group, climbing in a home made contraption through the palm trunk to reach the fruits. It is made out of tree branches and rope with the needed tension to climb without
sliding. Since the palms grow thorns, the climbing destroys their only means of protection.
The one used to climb dies later on . For this reason these fellows use only one palm to reach the rest. You have to see it to believe it.
The contraption has two parts. One for the feet, to move up and one for the arms that also becomes a rest while going up. With a long stick designed to cut and stop the bunch from falling, the crop is picked
after going 30/40/50 feet. It is important to keep the bunch intact since
that will determine a higher price at the market.
After the fruit collected in distant areas is brought to the village, it is separated with size, ripeness in mind. Later tied up to be taken to the market in CALI, four hours away through dirt roads. But the fruit is also transported through rivers and rustic wood home made vehicles adapted to travel in rail road tracks!
The team also gathers bananas, mangos and other staples from the forest in long walks. In between crops they also do some logging apparently without destroying the environment. Some wise fishing is also part of the
struggle. In one, termites nests whole are cut, later in pieces.
These pieces, with termites are placed into wooden traps in the river to
catch shrimps. They are covered with banana leaves and kept firm in the
ground with sticks to stop the water from pushing them down river.
The documentary flows quickly. The center of it, some what unexpectecly, is a woman, who organizes the buying and selling in the village. She is also involved in transporting the merchandise to CALI.
It is worth mentioning that the best price requires whole bunches. The fruit that falls off is picked and used to pay laborers doing the heavy work
of loading and unloading, also for those who work in the farm. In addition she sells house to house, guava, mangos and CHONTADUROS. These are peeled with a knife, put in a plastic bag, with salt/and/or/honey and sold to children
and adults in that wonderful city.
Bringing this story home , one has to question the need of illegal workers
in USA or Puerto Rico do farm work. Or how this ILLITERATE people
demonstrate such intelligence working in precarious situations, probably without water/electricity to survive in harmony with nature.
Illiterate people, I wish we had many like them down here. Intelligence has nothing to do with schooling. But what is left? Ignorance? In Puerto
Rico it is an epidemic. Imagine this...
RECENTLY some really well paid workers from the STATE electricity company, mutilated and destroyed seventy so so trees for the hell of it.
Results? Consequences? Some 'leader' sent a letter to the jerk in charge
of the illiterate/ignorant fools culprits of such use and custom here.
How ignorant are these fools? Think of GALILEO, when the earth was flat.
To measure how stupid is the national intelligentsia here, AGRONOMISTS, will be used as consultants not ARBORISTS as logic/education mandates, to help the GESTAPO Forestry, of Puerto Rico, Recursos Naturales and the AEE
(Authority of Electrical Energy) quite a name!
Sorry. But reality bites....NOW is time to collect signatures again?
martes, 19 de mayo de 2009
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPUNITY AND THE ACCOMPLICES
ONCE again! A local newspaper denounces the destruction/mutilation of seventy trees growing in the urban context, felled down by the AEE, the state agency in charge of electricity and such.
THESE jerks, with little or no education have been the subject of our scorn,
more than once during the life of endemismo. Their mission is to protect
wires from theoretical damage from trees branches/trunk. Most
of the time, the problem is caused by national stupidity, which is certainly
not a monopoly of this godforsakenisland, it takes place in more than one country in every continent.
What is the problem? Every tree has a particular architecture, shape, form, you name it, makes no difference. However, every tree shows in their branching certain specific developing, growth. If one desires to stop
a specic branch from moving/growing in an undesirable direction, as in
our case, electric wires....ONE cuts the branch at the base of the trunk, not
in the tip, the middle, or any other spot of the branch.
IT HAS TO BE in the specific spot where the branch begins an independent life. When the JERKS known (AEE) cut these branches anywhere
but that specific spot, in the mandatory angle, instead of one theoretical
branch damaging the wires...You create with the inadequate pruning/mutilation , 10 branches or more!
What makes this situation a catch 22 is becoming a vicious circle, year after year. The mutilation of beautiful trees by ignorant fools working for the AEE, making 3 or more times the minimun salary, with unusual benefits, no forestry credentials, that
their scam artists union have reached with government partners.
This proves our STANCE once again. There is not much that we can do
to save our habitat, environment, ecology, except what we do at HOME,
with some knowledge, good will without any recognition.
The housing developers in one hand, government jerks with licenses to kill destroy
the environment, hicks on television as Doglas Candelabro, the maximun
authority on gardens in Puerto Rico: blind/deaf/mute to these criminals, with the only
worry of making money without much concern...And everyone else jumping in the environment bandwagon when is nice with a chance to
appear on the printed media, radio or television...But unable to plant
a couple of beans in their backyards..
Hasta la masacre del medioambiente siempre..
THESE jerks, with little or no education have been the subject of our scorn,
more than once during the life of endemismo. Their mission is to protect
wires from theoretical damage from trees branches/trunk. Most
of the time, the problem is caused by national stupidity, which is certainly
not a monopoly of this godforsakenisland, it takes place in more than one country in every continent.
What is the problem? Every tree has a particular architecture, shape, form, you name it, makes no difference. However, every tree shows in their branching certain specific developing, growth. If one desires to stop
a specic branch from moving/growing in an undesirable direction, as in
our case, electric wires....ONE cuts the branch at the base of the trunk, not
in the tip, the middle, or any other spot of the branch.
IT HAS TO BE in the specific spot where the branch begins an independent life. When the JERKS known (AEE) cut these branches anywhere
but that specific spot, in the mandatory angle, instead of one theoretical
branch damaging the wires...You create with the inadequate pruning/mutilation , 10 branches or more!
What makes this situation a catch 22 is becoming a vicious circle, year after year. The mutilation of beautiful trees by ignorant fools working for the AEE, making 3 or more times the minimun salary, with unusual benefits, no forestry credentials, that
their scam artists union have reached with government partners.
This proves our STANCE once again. There is not much that we can do
to save our habitat, environment, ecology, except what we do at HOME,
with some knowledge, good will without any recognition.
The housing developers in one hand, government jerks with licenses to kill destroy
the environment, hicks on television as Doglas Candelabro, the maximun
authority on gardens in Puerto Rico: blind/deaf/mute to these criminals, with the only
worry of making money without much concern...And everyone else jumping in the environment bandwagon when is nice with a chance to
appear on the printed media, radio or television...But unable to plant
a couple of beans in their backyards..
Hasta la masacre del medioambiente siempre..
lunes, 18 de mayo de 2009
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU REALLY HAVE FOR GARDENING?
IN PUERTO RICO, USA, some horticultural fans into edible gardens, also into oriental
philosophy, religion, gastronomy and yoga are offering to design a garden of this
kind for your residence or apartment for what the typical laborer make at a minimun wage per hour in a day. Others, without such orientation offer the same thing for twice as much.
HOWEVER, none answers the question: HOW much time is there to dedicate to this
garden or any other type of garden. What do you do when you arrive from work?
What do you do on week ends?
Are you in good, average, good, poor physical shape? Are you sitting all day at work?
The honest answer to this questions will save you money, energy, and the possibility
of getting hurt while gardening.
Knees, hands, forearms, back, shoulders, abdominals, thighs, calves, neck are some of
the parts of the body most used while gardening. IF you are out of shape you will be
in pain for days or hours as you get in into it.
What are you going to plant? Is the soil adequate? Any shade? Or is it full sun? You will have to irrigate, the most boring of all gardening chores, not to get into weeding.
Unless you use a sprinkler, wasting a lot of water in the process or drip irrigation, the
most intelligent and practical.
Do not get into gardening, planting anything until you have some clear view of what it takes. A compromise is required. OF course, as in anything in life, if you quit
later for any of the possibilities mentioned..You can always buy glyfosphate and kill
all the weeds that will certainly take over your previous, failed, edible garden or else.
More info from a British perspective. Check the Judy Penylesi blog on these issues, and others. It is well written and fun. Time to go...
philosophy, religion, gastronomy and yoga are offering to design a garden of this
kind for your residence or apartment for what the typical laborer make at a minimun wage per hour in a day. Others, without such orientation offer the same thing for twice as much.
HOWEVER, none answers the question: HOW much time is there to dedicate to this
garden or any other type of garden. What do you do when you arrive from work?
What do you do on week ends?
Are you in good, average, good, poor physical shape? Are you sitting all day at work?
The honest answer to this questions will save you money, energy, and the possibility
of getting hurt while gardening.
Knees, hands, forearms, back, shoulders, abdominals, thighs, calves, neck are some of
the parts of the body most used while gardening. IF you are out of shape you will be
in pain for days or hours as you get in into it.
What are you going to plant? Is the soil adequate? Any shade? Or is it full sun? You will have to irrigate, the most boring of all gardening chores, not to get into weeding.
Unless you use a sprinkler, wasting a lot of water in the process or drip irrigation, the
most intelligent and practical.
Do not get into gardening, planting anything until you have some clear view of what it takes. A compromise is required. OF course, as in anything in life, if you quit
later for any of the possibilities mentioned..You can always buy glyfosphate and kill
all the weeds that will certainly take over your previous, failed, edible garden or else.
More info from a British perspective. Check the Judy Penylesi blog on these issues, and others. It is well written and fun. Time to go...
domingo, 10 de mayo de 2009
BOTANICAL INVENTORY UPDATED FOR MAY 2009
- Euphorbia pulcherrima
- Cuphea hissofilia
- Thespesia populnea
- Cestrum diurnum
- Frangipani acutifolia, rubra, lutea
- Coccoloba uvifera
- Bauhinia
- Clitoria ternatea
- Mangifera indica
- Citrus aurantifolia
- Citrus sinensis
- Pandanus utilis
- Chrysostemis pulchella
- Hippeastrum
- Hibiscus
- Ixora
- Turnera, ulmifolia, diffusa, subulata
- Ruellia brittoniana
- Manihot esculenta
- Ochna mossabisencis
- Pithelobium dulce
- Merremia quinquefolia
- Cannavalia maritima
- Portulaca oleraceae
- Thevetia peruviana
- Tradescantia palida
- Commelina elegans
- Talinum triangular
- Urena lobata
- Calliandra haemathocephala
- Murraya paniculata
- Pereskia corrugata
Ipomoea alba, Senecio confusus, Thumbergia alata, Lonicera x heckrotti, Antigonum leptopus, Allamanda schotti *. Pseuderantemun reticulatum, Pedilantus euphorbiaceae, Burleria repens, Polyscia fruticosa, balfouriana, Dracaena marginata, Pleomeles
reflexa, Hibiscus, Bixa orellana, Pepperomia pellucida, Cajanus cajan, Tulbaghia
violacea, Capsicum, Lipia micromera, Insulina, Ocimun basilicum, Origanum vulgare, Rosmarinus officinale and Passiflora oersteddii. * Exchange, thanks to
Hazel Topoleski from Dave'sgarden.com.
- Mirabilis siciliana
- Cosmus sulfureous
- Hemerocallis
- Oxalis
- Costus graptophylum
- Catharantus roseus
- Proiphys amboinensis
- Diffenbachia
- Datura Stramonium
- Nephrolepsis
- Zamia
- Allium
- Scadoxus
- Crinum
- Sanseverias
- Trimela caribea
- Gloriosa rothschildiana carsonii
- Aglaomena
- Eucare
- Pseuderantemun carrutherssi
Guiacum, Passiflora edulis, oersteddii, Syngonium, Jazminun multiflorum,
Rhoeo spathacea, Allamanda cathartica, Brumfelsia pauciflora, Calliandra
Haemathocephala, Alocasia cucculata, Zephyrantes, Tartago, Carica papaya,
and Bouganvillea.
What have you planted, propagated today? Yesterday?
sábado, 9 de mayo de 2009
KEEPING THE SCOPE WIDE
THOSE readers that visit often may have the idea already. Maybe not.
It does not matter. When I propagated the first Ficus, the one climber, in water, or when I planted the first Bauhinia from seed and Cannavis sativa,
I never thought that I would be writing about this at all. That was 42 years ago.
I just received the Landscape Management monthly issue. On the cover there is a picture of a squat looking illegal laborer and a pale, beefy law enforcement officer, arresting the cheap labor rep. The charges will certainly be illegal entering to the USA and identity theft.
Dirt Front News
Today, after weeks of dealing with weevils eating away the leaves of the Coccolova uvifera, I decided to grasp the horns by the bull. I changed the
soil, killed the grubs, placed some organic material and planted the happy
bush again. It is worthy to mention that this one was planted from a seed,
from Guanica, seven years ago. It is about seven feet tall and four wide.
Back to you in the studio
Any one who has migrated for any of the common place reasons, knows
how THE COOKIE CRUMBLES, and need no further explanation as to the implications of hiding, working, as if one had leprosy.
What is a little disturbing is that Landscape Magazine, has resuscitated this thorny, impossible to resolve issue. It implies that the financial, banking, real estate, mortgage, housing construction issues with the metalic/paper money loses have no end in sight. And the GREEN INDUSTRY is desperate since their services are really something that
one can do without or postpone indefinetely.
I believe that illegal migration exists, thanks to the avarice of owners of
companies unwilling to pay fair salaries,overtime, holidays, sick time, vacations and or medical insurance to the nationals of their country. This money grabber zealots are
the ones responsible for the twelve million illegal citizens in the USA.
Landlords are accesory to the crime. These scum bags rent apartments with room for four, to twelve or more people. There are places where you rent the bed for hours, night or day. These landlords make a bundle of money.
The law should go at these people. Send them to jail for a long while. If illegals have no jobs/housing, how can they remain in any country at all?
For how long? Not approaching this complicated problem at the root, will
just waste lots of money for the tax payers. Illegal emigration has the same repercussion in Europe/America or any other place on earth.
In Puerto Rico we have the same problems. In our case, islanders from Spanish, French and English speaking islands also. However, Homeland
Security, FBI and the rest do not bother with enforcing the law as it is done in Arizona, for example. Here is a free ride for all....
It does not matter. When I propagated the first Ficus, the one climber, in water, or when I planted the first Bauhinia from seed and Cannavis sativa,
I never thought that I would be writing about this at all. That was 42 years ago.
I just received the Landscape Management monthly issue. On the cover there is a picture of a squat looking illegal laborer and a pale, beefy law enforcement officer, arresting the cheap labor rep. The charges will certainly be illegal entering to the USA and identity theft.
Dirt Front News
Today, after weeks of dealing with weevils eating away the leaves of the Coccolova uvifera, I decided to grasp the horns by the bull. I changed the
soil, killed the grubs, placed some organic material and planted the happy
bush again. It is worthy to mention that this one was planted from a seed,
from Guanica, seven years ago. It is about seven feet tall and four wide.
Back to you in the studio
Any one who has migrated for any of the common place reasons, knows
how THE COOKIE CRUMBLES, and need no further explanation as to the implications of hiding, working, as if one had leprosy.
What is a little disturbing is that Landscape Magazine, has resuscitated this thorny, impossible to resolve issue. It implies that the financial, banking, real estate, mortgage, housing construction issues with the metalic/paper money loses have no end in sight. And the GREEN INDUSTRY is desperate since their services are really something that
one can do without or postpone indefinetely.
I believe that illegal migration exists, thanks to the avarice of owners of
companies unwilling to pay fair salaries,overtime, holidays, sick time, vacations and or medical insurance to the nationals of their country. This money grabber zealots are
the ones responsible for the twelve million illegal citizens in the USA.
Landlords are accesory to the crime. These scum bags rent apartments with room for four, to twelve or more people. There are places where you rent the bed for hours, night or day. These landlords make a bundle of money.
The law should go at these people. Send them to jail for a long while. If illegals have no jobs/housing, how can they remain in any country at all?
For how long? Not approaching this complicated problem at the root, will
just waste lots of money for the tax payers. Illegal emigration has the same repercussion in Europe/America or any other place on earth.
In Puerto Rico we have the same problems. In our case, islanders from Spanish, French and English speaking islands also. However, Homeland
Security, FBI and the rest do not bother with enforcing the law as it is done in Arizona, for example. Here is a free ride for all....
jueves, 7 de mayo de 2009
AUTOMOBILES AND TANGIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
IN my recent trip to Guanica, a desert like town in the south west of Puerto Rico, I was able to collect many seeds, enjoy the flora/fauna and noticed the subtle, evident destruction that takes place placidly and complacently. The region gets on the average thirty inches of rain and the vegetation is similar to that seen in some westerns.
No one sees it, even though is there, evident and destructive. I am writing
about people parking their cars in any imaginable space on the road shoulder or close to the shore, with total anarchy, as close as possible to the Caribbean sea, under the shade of the few scrawny trees that have survived these brutal, stupid, treatment. Some are still alive. But for how long?
These people or the populace go early in the morning with all the beach parafernalia to spend the whole day or a few hours and
enjoy the free oudoors entertainment. Mostly alcohol, drinks, beer in cans, food, plastic/paper bags, cups, bottles, and so on. Quite a few
have installed sound systems in the back of their cars, movable discos,
with too much bass...another irritating kind of pollution, AUDITIVE.
There is also the CAYO AURORA (Gilligan's) crowd. Twenty five people in a boat, travel for ten minutes to arrive to this islet. Without water
or portable outhouses..Imagine what it looks like at the end of the day!
Twenty five people per hour from nine to five.... Some listen to their radios with the volume all the way up, with shitty music, another problem! But lets keep the focus, garbage, human waste, noise pollution, is another issue...
The many mentioned cars compact the soil, destroying the most important resource in Guanica. When soil loses the capacity to breath, it can not absorb water either. It becomes solid as concrete! Anything that is living on compacted soil is
destined to pass away. On top of that, nothing will be able to grow, except, with luck, some weeds.
That is the scenery, what I see when I observe ground, soil, anywhere in Puerto Rico, by the beach or not. Vehicles constantly driven or parks, ground, on soil will destroy its structure.
Pedestrians can also destroy the soil, runners in parks, forests create
the same problem. This is something else that our environmental keyboard journalists can not see, since they do not practice horticulture,
do not plant even a couple of beans to watch them grow...Soil compaction
in every possible context.
The police or the VIGILANTES from our 007 Department of Natural resources do not see, perceive this certain destruction of one of Puerto Rico's (mine at least) most interesting shores, environment, flora/fauna resources.
That is why I write. Watching, trying to find solutions. In this token of the Guanica Destruction, the solution is to prohibit any
cars beyond the public beach in Canha Gorda. Provide public means
of transportation every 15/30 minutes, certainly not for free. Clean portable toilets, enough for the crowds that gather around, changed
daily at the end of the day, garbage collection every three hours on week ends.
Why do people have to drive anywhere, everywhere without any other concern than their comfort? Protecting the environment intelligently requires constant review, criticism and proposals.
Even if the dumb horses refuse to drink the water, one's duty is to bring
them to it.
No one sees it, even though is there, evident and destructive. I am writing
about people parking their cars in any imaginable space on the road shoulder or close to the shore, with total anarchy, as close as possible to the Caribbean sea, under the shade of the few scrawny trees that have survived these brutal, stupid, treatment. Some are still alive. But for how long?
These people or the populace go early in the morning with all the beach parafernalia to spend the whole day or a few hours and
enjoy the free oudoors entertainment. Mostly alcohol, drinks, beer in cans, food, plastic/paper bags, cups, bottles, and so on. Quite a few
have installed sound systems in the back of their cars, movable discos,
with too much bass...another irritating kind of pollution, AUDITIVE.
There is also the CAYO AURORA (Gilligan's) crowd. Twenty five people in a boat, travel for ten minutes to arrive to this islet. Without water
or portable outhouses..Imagine what it looks like at the end of the day!
Twenty five people per hour from nine to five.... Some listen to their radios with the volume all the way up, with shitty music, another problem! But lets keep the focus, garbage, human waste, noise pollution, is another issue...
The many mentioned cars compact the soil, destroying the most important resource in Guanica. When soil loses the capacity to breath, it can not absorb water either. It becomes solid as concrete! Anything that is living on compacted soil is
destined to pass away. On top of that, nothing will be able to grow, except, with luck, some weeds.
That is the scenery, what I see when I observe ground, soil, anywhere in Puerto Rico, by the beach or not. Vehicles constantly driven or parks, ground, on soil will destroy its structure.
Pedestrians can also destroy the soil, runners in parks, forests create
the same problem. This is something else that our environmental keyboard journalists can not see, since they do not practice horticulture,
do not plant even a couple of beans to watch them grow...Soil compaction
in every possible context.
The police or the VIGILANTES from our 007 Department of Natural resources do not see, perceive this certain destruction of one of Puerto Rico's (mine at least) most interesting shores, environment, flora/fauna resources.
That is why I write. Watching, trying to find solutions. In this token of the Guanica Destruction, the solution is to prohibit any
cars beyond the public beach in Canha Gorda. Provide public means
of transportation every 15/30 minutes, certainly not for free. Clean portable toilets, enough for the crowds that gather around, changed
daily at the end of the day, garbage collection every three hours on week ends.
Why do people have to drive anywhere, everywhere without any other concern than their comfort? Protecting the environment intelligently requires constant review, criticism and proposals.
Even if the dumb horses refuse to drink the water, one's duty is to bring
them to it.
miércoles, 6 de mayo de 2009
MEMORABLE MEMORIES MUSICAL MOMENTS
WHAT do you know? I was able to listen for the first time to the whole 3lps album of
THE CLASH, "Sandinista", from 1980. To be honest of the thirty tunes or so maybe ten
are worthy of listening more than once.
PERHAPS one day I could do the same with the Claudio Abbado's, Beethoven Symphonies. The whole, heavy to the ear and brains collection. Or the piano sonatas
with Claudio Arrau. Will shall see and inform...
I know some of my religious fans were surprised to see the previous article in font
for the visually impaired. Some of them appreciated it even though is not the typical
fashion to present random thoughts.
Today feeling my head about to blow I will be unusually brief.. Enough to say that
after following the nicking/soaking instructions from Hazel, the following were
planted: Senecio confusus, Black eye Susan, Honeysuckle, Allamanda schottii and Antigonum leptopus.
For my good fortune it has been raining in this godforsakenisle for the last twenty four hours, certainly a great sign for these new arrivals, that increase some more
my unique collection. So far the only one in the bloggers world, world until now.
See you there. The flu is still with me. Keep planting and propagating...
THE CLASH, "Sandinista", from 1980. To be honest of the thirty tunes or so maybe ten
are worthy of listening more than once.
PERHAPS one day I could do the same with the Claudio Abbado's, Beethoven Symphonies. The whole, heavy to the ear and brains collection. Or the piano sonatas
with Claudio Arrau. Will shall see and inform...
I know some of my religious fans were surprised to see the previous article in font
for the visually impaired. Some of them appreciated it even though is not the typical
fashion to present random thoughts.
Today feeling my head about to blow I will be unusually brief.. Enough to say that
after following the nicking/soaking instructions from Hazel, the following were
planted: Senecio confusus, Black eye Susan, Honeysuckle, Allamanda schottii and Antigonum leptopus.
For my good fortune it has been raining in this godforsakenisle for the last twenty four hours, certainly a great sign for these new arrivals, that increase some more
my unique collection. So far the only one in the bloggers world, world until now.
See you there. The flu is still with me. Keep planting and propagating...
martes, 5 de mayo de 2009
NEWS NEWS FIRST SEED EXCHANGE IN 24 MONTHS!
I AM NOT the typical exaggerated, with too many gestures, hands/face, body
expressions of satisfaction, happiness, anger or sadness found in the region. I could
have been British or with Teutonic persuasion. But this morning, even though the
weather has all those characteristics of autumn in New Foundland to pick one, I am certainly happy for a very simple reason, and bear up with the wordiness...
Is not that the music from those two cultural expressions was superior, Ska/Regue,Rock,Punk, for example, particularly during the eighties. Nina Hagen comes to mind, Black Uhuru, The Selector, Five Young Cannibals, UB40, 38 Special, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, The Clash and too many others... Or the beer, sausages, parks, wine, forests, cars, sidewalks, highways, roads, cottage/prairie gardens, and serious respect for silence in all contexts.
NOW regarding our food based on the gastronomy of SPAIN, no comments, some
kick butts, then or now. And Flamenco, Coplas, and the fusion rock/jazz/blues that took place then, I discovered a decade later, working in the Classical Music Department of Virgin MegaStore in Times Square, New York, such as Camaron and his worthy constituents is as cool as those mentioned above... Sober, drunk or stoned.
But these variations of a wide theme, is not what I want to write about, maybe some other time.
The islander nationalist patriotic front freaks that make about five percent of the population, (a few of which we read to be amused) may be watching. Some of which often visit here in disguise, are into ' historical inquisitorial mode' all the time, with no tolerance of any kind of inner criticism or dissent, judging from their narrow world views expressions behind the FLAG blinders, and certain infantile reactions. Their worl is shiite/suni like.
AT any rate. I feel, we feel, (how absurd is to write in third) pretty much as a child
before/after those myths of Three Kings or Santa. The arrival of the seeds, some
are soaking, nicked, following instructions before being planted, have our timid, difficult smile wide. Happiness is here, clear and simple.
It all started after placing a then, DK flower in Dave'sgarden.com searching for
identification help, a feature for members. This horticultural
site is for really interested gardening practitioners. The type that plants, propagates, experiment, read, write and share. It is one of a kind place to learn from gardeners
that take seriously horticultural issues.
Some ot the writers at Dave's are devoted fanatics of turf/palm tree freaks, but I does not matter, the whole is enjoyable most of the time. On the other hand, it shows my tolerance, (very little) to some views and practices that I abhor and denounce.
The flower is the rare, propagated from seeds, stem cuts: Hibiscus cannabiluss. Our horticultural colleague from Texas, Hazel Topoleski, was kind to identify this bush not common/found at all in Puerto Rico, USA and sharing seeds, lots of information about this and other gardening subjects .
This is the list of seeds, mostly climbers and others:
LLonicera x heckrottii
Antigonun leptopus
Clerodendrum thomsoniae
Aristolochia giganteais
Ipomoea alba
Anomatheca laxa
Hibiscus calyphyllus
Calliandra
Tecoma
Chrysactina mexicana
expressions of satisfaction, happiness, anger or sadness found in the region. I could
have been British or with Teutonic persuasion. But this morning, even though the
weather has all those characteristics of autumn in New Foundland to pick one, I am certainly happy for a very simple reason, and bear up with the wordiness...
Is not that the music from those two cultural expressions was superior, Ska/Regue,Rock,Punk, for example, particularly during the eighties. Nina Hagen comes to mind, Black Uhuru, The Selector, Five Young Cannibals, UB40, 38 Special, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, The Clash and too many others... Or the beer, sausages, parks, wine, forests, cars, sidewalks, highways, roads, cottage/prairie gardens, and serious respect for silence in all contexts.
NOW regarding our food based on the gastronomy of SPAIN, no comments, some
kick butts, then or now. And Flamenco, Coplas, and the fusion rock/jazz/blues that took place then, I discovered a decade later, working in the Classical Music Department of Virgin MegaStore in Times Square, New York, such as Camaron and his worthy constituents is as cool as those mentioned above... Sober, drunk or stoned.
But these variations of a wide theme, is not what I want to write about, maybe some other time.
The islander nationalist patriotic front freaks that make about five percent of the population, (a few of which we read to be amused) may be watching. Some of which often visit here in disguise, are into ' historical inquisitorial mode' all the time, with no tolerance of any kind of inner criticism or dissent, judging from their narrow world views expressions behind the FLAG blinders, and certain infantile reactions. Their worl is shiite/suni like.
AT any rate. I feel, we feel, (how absurd is to write in third) pretty much as a child
before/after those myths of Three Kings or Santa. The arrival of the seeds, some
are soaking, nicked, following instructions before being planted, have our timid, difficult smile wide. Happiness is here, clear and simple.
It all started after placing a then, DK flower in Dave'sgarden.com searching for
identification help, a feature for members. This horticultural
site is for really interested gardening practitioners. The type that plants, propagates, experiment, read, write and share. It is one of a kind place to learn from gardeners
that take seriously horticultural issues.
Some ot the writers at Dave's are devoted fanatics of turf/palm tree freaks, but I does not matter, the whole is enjoyable most of the time. On the other hand, it shows my tolerance, (very little) to some views and practices that I abhor and denounce.
The flower is the rare, propagated from seeds, stem cuts: Hibiscus cannabiluss. Our horticultural colleague from Texas, Hazel Topoleski, was kind to identify this bush not common/found at all in Puerto Rico, USA and sharing seeds, lots of information about this and other gardening subjects .
This is the list of seeds, mostly climbers and others:
Basella rubra
Senecio confussus
Thumbergia alata *Senecio confussus
LLonicera x heckrottii
Antigonun leptopus
Clerodendrum thomsoniae
Aristolochia giganteais
Ipomoea alba
Anomatheca laxa
Hibiscus calyphyllus
Calliandra
Tecoma
Chrysactina mexicana
Allamanda schotti
THANK YOU HAZEL
if any reader would like
to exchange seeds
say so
if any reader would like
to exchange seeds
say so
domingo, 3 de mayo de 2009
WHITE FLIES ATTACK!
IT was not long ago when my Calliandra was attacked by some
handsome triangular shaped insects. The swarm procession like
individuals appeared out of the blue. I am certain since I monitor
while spraying H2O, for insects twice a day.
Yesterday around five thirty pm or 5:30 if you prefer, while on the already mentioned activity..I noticed this white fluffy/dusty/substance/material on the turned up leaves. Calliandras do that when sleeping, fold up their leaves.
I did not panic since I knew what the destiny of these unwelcome creatures would be today. But before I continue
I would like to stress that since the elimination of IXORAS in my garden community, there were no such insects for many months. Those few discovered have passed away with the secret
formula: dish soup/hot sauce concoction.
Change of subject rather abrupt
Have you thought of all the time dedicated to health, sex, exercise, dieting, court, soap operas, sit coms, and so on? It is
a lot, is not it? Well if one percent of that, an hour perhaps a day? Could be used to show horticultural issues, would it be fun? But what the heck is not going to happen...
I can not forget a weird British series 'ROSEMARY AND THYME. Too short a stay. Wonderful photography, acting, crime stories with gardening, horticulture as the sub plot in every chapter.
Another missing, lost forever CITY GARDENER, transmitted in the sappy, corny HGTV, for a brief period. Another British demonstration of sophisticated, well thought gardening issues in
the very small space available in their urban contexts.
Now there are Landscapers Challenge, Curb Appeal and one with an often informative show with a clown, Gardening by the Yard. I got sick and tired of the wordy, repetitive back and forth of the before and after. And the silly interviews with the property owners with no fucking idea of plants, gardening, horticulture or anything if you ask me. Why interview them
for their opinions then? I rest my case.
The end is near. If you are tired of sex, believe that sex has always been overrated, plant Turneras of any kind, ulmifolias, subulatas or diffusas. They flower daily between morning and sun set. They last longer and make bees happy for ever and ever..
You could substitute the word sex with: poetry, literature, academics, pandemics, emmigration and such.
handsome triangular shaped insects. The swarm procession like
individuals appeared out of the blue. I am certain since I monitor
while spraying H2O, for insects twice a day.
Yesterday around five thirty pm or 5:30 if you prefer, while on the already mentioned activity..I noticed this white fluffy/dusty/substance/material on the turned up leaves. Calliandras do that when sleeping, fold up their leaves.
I did not panic since I knew what the destiny of these unwelcome creatures would be today. But before I continue
I would like to stress that since the elimination of IXORAS in my garden community, there were no such insects for many months. Those few discovered have passed away with the secret
formula: dish soup/hot sauce concoction.
Change of subject rather abrupt
Have you thought of all the time dedicated to health, sex, exercise, dieting, court, soap operas, sit coms, and so on? It is
a lot, is not it? Well if one percent of that, an hour perhaps a day? Could be used to show horticultural issues, would it be fun? But what the heck is not going to happen...
I can not forget a weird British series 'ROSEMARY AND THYME. Too short a stay. Wonderful photography, acting, crime stories with gardening, horticulture as the sub plot in every chapter.
Another missing, lost forever CITY GARDENER, transmitted in the sappy, corny HGTV, for a brief period. Another British demonstration of sophisticated, well thought gardening issues in
the very small space available in their urban contexts.
Now there are Landscapers Challenge, Curb Appeal and one with an often informative show with a clown, Gardening by the Yard. I got sick and tired of the wordy, repetitive back and forth of the before and after. And the silly interviews with the property owners with no fucking idea of plants, gardening, horticulture or anything if you ask me. Why interview them
for their opinions then? I rest my case.
The end is near. If you are tired of sex, believe that sex has always been overrated, plant Turneras of any kind, ulmifolias, subulatas or diffusas. They flower daily between morning and sun set. They last longer and make bees happy for ever and ever..
You could substitute the word sex with: poetry, literature, academics, pandemics, emmigration and such.
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